2008 Toyota Land Cruiser — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser passed 78.1% of its 3,959 recorded MOT tests. Large SUVs of a similar age fail at 22.8%, so the 2008 Land Cruiser sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.5%) and suspension (9.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, rigid brake pipes and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 237 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.6% in the 30-60k band and 25.6% in the 150k+ band, a 10.0-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 30.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.4% in 2021 to 21.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.5% | 414 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.6% | 379 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.5% | 376 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.0% | 318 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 145 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 108 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 237 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 200 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 178 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 176 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 138 |
| 6 | Wipers | 119 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 30.8% | 1,220 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.5% | 1,087 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.1% | 795 |
| 4 | Tyres | 14.4% | 569 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 556 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.4% | 413 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 167 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 467 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 958 | 20.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,084 | 23.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,263 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,860 | 22.1% |
| Petrol | 99 | 13.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 865 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 844 | 20.8% |
| 2023 | 795 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 753 | 21.3% |
| 2025 | 702 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Land Cruiser
On a 2008 Land Cruiser, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (9.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2008 Toyota Land Cruisers pass their MOT?
78.1% of the 3,959 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by suspension (9.6%).
Does the 2008 Land Cruiser get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.6% in the 30-60k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,959 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.